Iran-backed Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia in response to airstrikes in Yemen

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalated their conflict with Saudi Arabia by firing missiles and drones at the kingdom. The rebels stated their targets were facilities belonging to Aramco, the world's largest oil company, in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan. This action follows Saudi airstrikes on Hodeida, a strategic Red Sea port city in Yemen.

The Houthis' military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, announced the missile and drone attack. Saudi authorities confirmed alerts sounded in Yanbu and Jizan but offered no further comment. The escalation occurs amid broader regional tensions, with the United States and Iran vying for influence in the Strait of Hormuz.

“

Nothing short of ending the aggression and lifting the blockade, otherwise, it's all illusion and mirage.

The conflict directly threatens global shipping. The Houthis have previously vowed to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which approximately 12% of the world's trade passes. This threat is in retaliation for the Saudi blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa's international airport.

Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi-led Supreme Political Council, stated that ending the aggression and lifting the blockade are prerequisites for the Houthis to refrain from blocking the strait. The Saudi-led coalition claimed its strikes in Hodeida targeted "legitimate military targets" linked to threats against commercial vessels, denying hitting the port itself. The strikes reportedly injured two people.

“

legitimate military targets